Walled garden boss cooking up a recipe for success

A TRAINED chef hopes he has the recipe for Kirkleatham Walled Garden to fulfil its “enormous potential”.

- By DAVE ROBSON

A chef for 32 years, Karl Buxton has worked at a string of well-known Teesside pubs and restaurants, including the Bay Horse at Hutton Rudby, Judges in Yarm, King's Grill, Saltburn, Lordstones Country Park, Cross Keys, Guisborough, the Norton Tavern and the Ship Inn.

Most recently, he was chef manager at Cummins in Darlington and Teesside University's catering manager. Six years ago, he joined facilities management and contract catering company Elior.

And after spells as the company’s north of England development chef and operations support manager, he's now landed his dream job - general manager of the Kirkleatham Walled Garden, which Elior runs for Redcar and Cleveland Council.

The Grade II-listed walled garden within the Kirkleatham Estate was originally built in the 17th Century by the Turner family but fell into disrepair.

In 2021, in a £9.8m scheme, it was restored back to its former glory to include formal gardens, a splash area, a tea room and a 350-seat pavilion available for weddings, proms - there are four already lined up in 2025 - gala dinners and corporate events.